Page 117 - DSOC402_SOCIOLOGY_OF_KINSHIP_ENGLISH

Unit 16: Changing Trends in Marriage

expansion in the field of education. Along with that, individualism has increased instead of Notes
communism.

Man has started viewing things on a personal level, instead of keeping in view
the entire group, community and society. More changes have occurred in the
last one hundred years than they did during the last one thousand years. Today,
the different societies in the world are advancing forward at a fast pace. The old
traditions are breaking and are being replaced by new traditions.

1. Individual Role in Marriage: Instead of the importance of religious role in the Hindu Mar-
riage, it is the individual role which is being given importance these days. Until now, the
single (unmarried) people were viewed with contempt. Such people did not get a respected
position in society. But times have changed now. Today, marriage is considered as an indi-
vidual matter.
2. No Compulsion of Marriage: Today most the youngsters consider marriage as a deterrent
in their freedom. Now women being financially independent and the desire to keep popu-
lation in check, there is no compulsion to get married, until the earlier times. The educated
working women prefer to remain single, in case they fail to find a match of their choice.
3. Change in the Nature of Ritual Marriage: Today marriage is not considered as a religious
ritual but as a social contract. Industrialisation, urbanisation and westernisation has led
to the reduction of importance of religious or ritualisation aspects of the Hindu marriage.
Now it is being viewed as a form of social contract. The religious base is getting weak.
4. Changes in the Motive of Marriage: In most of the societies, the motive of marriage is to
fulfill the religious rituals. The Hindu Marriage states the fulfillment of religious or reli-
gious rituals as the foremost motive of marriage. But now the fulfillment of sexual desires
and having issues feature as the foremost motives.
5. Equality of Marital Rights: Presently men and women enjoy equal marital rights. Some
ago, polygamy was prevalent in the Hindu society, a man could have more than one wife.
But now, Monogamy has been made mandatory by the law. Now, a man cannot remarry,
when already having a wife. Similarly, men and women have been given equal separation
(divorce) rights too.
6. Reduced Child Marriages and Increased Late Marriage: Now the age of marriage is
gradually increasing and the prevalence of child marriages has reduced due to education.
Today highly educated youngsters prefer to marry, only after establishing their careers. The
increasing importance of education and the failure to arrange dowry in time are the leading
causes of delayed marriages. Now, delayed marriages are becoming a norm.
7. Growing trend of Dowry or Groom Value System: In the present materialistic age, money
has become the most prominent factor in determining a person’s positions. Today parents
demand more dowry or money for their educated son’s marriage. The educated men too
expect to get a maximum amount of dowry.
8. Increased Widow Re-marriages: Until now, widow re-marriage was unacceptable and
people who opted for it were viewed with contempt. But now the attitude is changing and
people are coming forward in favour of widow re-marriages. Though such marriages are
prevalent, their number is less.
9. Difference in Restricted Marriages: Today, marriage related restrictions are not given as
importance as they were earlier. For example, now, it is not mandatory in the Hindu society
to marry within the community or caste. The law does not prevent same-community or
same-caste marriages. Similarly, it is no more mandatory to marry within the same caste.

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